Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/612

 ascend up  forever  and  ever,  neither  have  they  rest day or  night."

Brethren, it  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once  to  die, and after  death  the  judgment,  and  no  man  living  is sure  that  his  particular  and  general  judgments  mays not coincide. That day  is  coming,  is  coming  now, and will  arrive  suddenly  like  a  thief  in  the  night. Men will  be  planning  for  the  future,  planning  for honors, riches,  and  pleasures,  and  lo! the Lord  will be even  at  their  doors  to  demand  their  souls  of  them. Let us  not  be  like  them,  but  let  us  rather  imitate  that servant who  when  his  lord  came  was  found  watching. From the  color  of  the  sky,  men  can  foretell  the weather of  the  morrow,  and  from  the  budding  trees they know  that  summer  is  nigh. Let it  not  be  said that the  children  of  this  age  are  wiser  in  their  generation than  the  children  of  light,  for  we  too  from the lapse  of  time  ought  to  learn  every  day  that  our judgment is  drawing  nearer  and  nearer. What we most  need  are  holy  indifference  and  holy  fear:  indifference to  the  things  of  earth  and  fear  for  the  things beyond. Be not  unduly  concerned  if  your  earthly state be  not  all  that  could  be  desired. Remember that men  in  this  life  are  like  the  grains  of  winter wheat — the severer  the  winter  the  more  abundant will be  the  next  season's  harvest. But it  is  criminal not to  be  solicitous  for  the  world  to  come. Holy David feared  to  meet  his  God,  and  holy  Job  trembled for the  time  when  God  should  rise  against  him  in judgment,  and  Paul  the  Apostle,  though  conscious of no  wrong,  yet  dared  not  account  himself  just.